Electrical switching apparatus and stored energy assembly therefor

Abstract

A stored energy assembly is for an electrical switching apparatus. The electrical switching apparatus includes a housing and a mount coupled to the housing. The stored energy assembly includes: a ratchet assembly having: a first ratchet member, a second ratchet member, and a shaft extending through the first ratchet member and the second ratchet member, the shaft being structured to extend through the mount; a stored energy mechanism coupled to the shaft; at least one charging mechanism structured to charge the stored energy mechanism in order to store energy; and a clutch assembly including a link assembly cooperating with the first ratchet member and the second ratchet member in order to transmit energy from the charging mechanism to the stored energy mechanism.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A stored energy assembly for an electrical switching apparatus, said electrical switching apparatus comprising a housing and a mount coupled to said housing, said stored energy assembly comprising:
 a ratchet assembly comprising:
 a first ratchet member, 
 a second ratchet member, and 
 a shaft extending through said first ratchet member and said second ratchet member, said shaft being structured to extend through said mount; 
 
 a stored energy mechanism coupled to said shaft; 
 at least one charging mechanism structured to charge said stored energy mechanism in order to store energy; and 
 a clutch assembly comprising a link assembly cooperating with said first ratchet member and said second ratchet member in order to transmit energy from said at least one charging mechanism to said stored energy mechanism, 
 wherein said link assembly comprises a linking member and a biasing element each coupled to said first ratchet member; and wherein said biasing element biases said linking member toward engagement with said second ratchet member. 
 
     
     
       2. The stored energy assembly of  claim 1  wherein said biasing element is a blade-spring. 
     
     
       3. The stored energy assembly of  claim 1  wherein said stored energy mechanism is a clock spring. 
     
     
       4. The stored energy assembly of  claim 1  wherein said second ratchet member comprises a disc-shaped body and a protrusion; wherein said protrusion extends from said body toward said first ratchet member; wherein said protrusion has a grooved region; and wherein, when said at least one charging mechanism charges said stored energy mechanism, said linking member engages the grooved region. 
     
     
       5. The stored energy assembly of  claim 4  wherein said clutch assembly further comprises a trip wheel, a separator member, and another biasing element; wherein said trip wheel is disposed between said first ratchet member and said second ratchet member; wherein said shaft extends through said trip wheel; wherein said separator member is structured to be at least partially disposed internal with respect to said trip wheel; wherein said another biasing element biases said separator member away from said shaft; wherein said separator member is structured to move between a first position and a second position; wherein the first position corresponds to said separator member being substantially disposed internal with respect to said trip wheel; wherein the second position corresponds to said separator member being at least partially disposed external with respect to said trip wheel; and wherein, when said separator member moves from the first position to the second position, said separator member drives said linking member away from the grooved region. 
     
     
       6. The stored energy assembly of  claim 1  wherein said clutch assembly further comprises a transfer assembly; wherein said transfer assembly comprises a drive assembly and a biasing element each structured to be coupled to said mount; wherein said drive assembly comprises a cam, a handle, and a pawl coupled to said handle and being movably disposed on said first ratchet member: wherein said cam, said handle, and said pawl are structured to cooperate with one another to transmit energy from said at least one charging mechanism into movement of said first ratchet member; wherein, when said at least one charging mechanism charges said stored energy mechanism, said first ratchet member rotates in a first direction; and wherein said biasing element biases said handle in a second direction opposite the first direction. 
     
     
       7. The stored energy assembly of  claim 6  wherein said at least one charging mechanism is structured to drive said cam; wherein said cam is structured to drive said handle in order to allow said pawl to drive said first ratchet member in the first direction; and wherein said biasing element is structured to drive said handle in the second direction in order to allow said drive assembly to reset. 
     
     
       8. A stored energy assembly for an electrical switching apparatus, said electrical switching apparatus comprising a housing and a mount coupled to said housing, said stored energy assembly comprising:
 a ratchet assembly comprising:
 a first ratchet member, 
 a second ratchet member, and 
 a shaft extending through said first ratchet member and said second ratchet member, said shaft being structured to extend through said mount; 
 
 a stored energy mechanism coupled to said shaft; 
 at least one charging mechanism structured to charge said stored energy mechanism in order to store energy; and 
 a clutch assembly comprising a link assembly cooperating with said first ratchet member and said second ratchet member in order to transmit energy from said at least one charging mechanism to said stored energy mechanism, 
 wherein said second ratchet member is disposed between said first ratchet member and said stored energy mechanism; wherein said ratchet assembly further comprises a coupling member coupled to said second ratchet member and said stored energy mechanism; and wherein said second ratchet member is structured to rotate said coupling member with respect to said shaft in order to transmit energy from said at least one charging mechanism to said stored energy mechanism. 
 
     
     
       9. The stored energy assembly of  claim 8  wherein said coupling member is a spring box; wherein said spring box comprises a body and a number of tangs extending from said body; wherein said second ratchet member has a side portion facing away from said first ratchet member; wherein said side portion has a number of slots; and wherein each of said number of tangs is disposed in a corresponding one of the number of slots. 
     
     
       10. A stored energy assembly for an electrical switching apparatus, said electrical switching apparatus comprising a housing and a mount coupled to said housing, said stored energy assembly comprising:
 a ratchet assembly comprising:
 a first ratchet member, 
 a second ratchet member, and 
 a shaft extending through said first ratchet member and said second ratchet member, said shaft being structured to extend through said mount; 
 
 a stored energy mechanism coupled to said shaft; 
 at least one charging mechanism structured to charge said stored energy mechanism in order to store energy; and 
 a clutch assembly comprising a link assembly cooperating with said first ratchet member and said second ratchet member in order to transmit energy from said at least one charging mechanism to said stored energy mechanism, 
 wherein said clutch assembly further comprises a pawl structured to be coupled to said mount; wherein said second ratchet member is structured to rotate at a first angle in a first direction and a second angle in a second direction opposite the first direction; wherein the first direction corresponds to said stored energy mechanism charging; and wherein said pawl engages said second ratchet member in order that the first angle is greater than the second angle. 
 
     
     
       11. An electrical switching apparatus comprising:
 a housing; 
 a mount coupled to said housing; and 
 a stored energy assembly comprising:
 a ratchet assembly comprising:
 a first ratchet member, 
 a second ratchet member, and 
 a shaft extending through said first ratchet member, said second ratchet member, and said mount, 
 
 a stored energy mechanism coupled to said shaft, 
 at least one charging mechanism structured to charge said stored energy mechanism in order to store energy, and 
 a clutch assembly comprising a link assembly cooperating with said first ratchet member and said second ratchet member in order to transmit energy from said at least one charging mechanism to said stored energy mechanism, 
 
 wherein said link assembly comprises a linking member and a biasing element each coupled to said first ratchet member; and wherein said biasing element biases said linking member toward engagement with said second ratchet member. 
 
     
     
       12. The electrical switching apparatus of  claim 11  wherein said clutch assembly further comprises a pawl coupled to said mount; wherein said second ratchet member is structured to rotate at a first angle in a first direction and a second angle in a second direction opposite the first direction; wherein the first direction corresponds to said stored energy mechanism charging; wherein said pawl engages said second ratchet member in order that the first angle is greater than the second angle; wherein said electrical switching apparatus is a medium voltage vacuum circuit breaker; wherein said stored energy mechanism is a clock spring; and wherein said at least one charging mechanism is selected from the group consisting of a motor and a manual charging mechanism. 
     
     
       13. The electrical switching apparatus of  claim 11  wherein said second ratchet member comprises a disc-shaped body and a protrusion; wherein said protrusion extends from said body toward said first ratchet member; wherein said protrusion has a grooved region; and wherein, when said at least one charging mechanism charges said stored energy mechanism, said linking member engages the grooved region. 
     
     
       14. The electrical switching apparatus of  claim 13  wherein said clutch assembly further comprises a trip wheel, a separator member, and another biasing element; wherein said trip wheel is disposed between said first ratchet member and said second ratchet member; wherein said shaft extends through said trip wheel; wherein said separator member is structured to be at least partially disposed internal with respect to said trip wheel; wherein said another biasing element biases said separator member away from said shaft; wherein said separator member is structured to move between a first position and a second position; wherein the first position corresponds to said separator member being substantially disposed internal with respect to said trip wheel; wherein the second position corresponds to said separator member being at least partially disposed external with respect to said trip wheel; and wherein, when said separator member moves from the first position to the second position, said separator member drives said linking member away from the grooved region. 
     
     
       15. The electrical switching apparatus of  claim 11  wherein said second ratchet member is disposed between said first ratchet member and said stored energy mechanism; wherein said ratchet assembly further comprises a coupling member coupled to said second ratchet member and said stored energy mechanism; and wherein said second ratchet member is structured to rotate said coupling member with respect to said shaft in order to transmit energy from said at least one charging mechanism to said stored energy mechanism. 
     
     
       16. The electrical switching apparatus of  claim 15  wherein said coupling member is a spring box; wherein said spring box comprises a body and a number of tangs extending from said body; wherein said second ratchet member has a side portion facing away from said first ratchet member; wherein said side portion has a number of slots; and wherein each of said number of tangs is disposed in a corresponding one of the number of slots. 
     
     
       17. The electrical switching apparatus of  claim 11  wherein said clutch assembly further comprises a transfer assembly; wherein said transfer assembly comprises a drive assembly and a biasing element each coupled to said mount; wherein said drive assembly comprises a cam, a handle, and a pawl coupled to said handle and being movably disposed on said first ratchet member: wherein said cam, said handle, and said pawl are structured to cooperate with one another to transmit energy from said at least one charging mechanism into movement of said first ratchet member; wherein, when said at least one charging mechanism charges said stored energy mechanism, said first ratchet member rotates in a first direction; and wherein said biasing element biases said handle in a second direction opposite the first direction. 
     
     
       18. The electrical switching apparatus of  claim 17  wherein said at least one charging mechanism is structured to drive said cam; wherein said cam is structured to drive said handle in order to allow said pawl to drive said first ratchet member in the first direction; and wherein said biasing element is structured to drive said handle in the second direction in order to allow said drive assembly to reset.